In the present study, we studied the concentrations and proportions. We identified the potential sources and health risks of 12 probably carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in rice grain from 31 sites in Thailand and Myanmar. The findings showed that PAH concentrations in rice grain samples from Thailand and Myanmar were in the range of 0.09 to 37.15 ng.g-1 with an average value of 18.22 ± 11.76 ng.g-1 and 0.07 to 150.73 ng.g-1 with an average value of 34.70 ± 40.57 ng.g-1, respectively. The majority group of PAHs in the rice grain samples from Thailand were the five-ring PAHs (78%), followed by four-rings (12%) and three-ring PAHs (9.5%), respectively, while for Myanmar was the five-ring PAHs were the majority (64.02%), followed by six-rings (15.22%) and four-ring PAHs (13.58%), respectively. The diagnostic ratio analysis suggested that pyrogenic origin is a major source of PAHs, and principal component analysis (PCA) identifies the incomplete combustion of fuel as likely the primary source of emissions source of PAHs contamination in rice grain samples. The total values of incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of PAH content of rice grain for children and adults were 1.95 × 10-8 and 1.44 × 10-8, respectively, for Thailand and 1.83×10-7 and 1.35×10-7 for Myanmar, which showed that the incremental lifetime cancer risk from rice grain was lower than the baseline set is considered to be safe levels.

Spatial data technology using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is one of the aerial imaging technologies used to produce detailed data. However, its utilization for mapping, especially disaster mapping needs an in-depth study. The research site is located within 00-”00’29°51’31°00” N and 12327’5°-123”00’3°” E that covers an area of 2,531 Ha, which consists of 1,745 Ha land and 786 Ha water areas. Administratively, the research site is in South Leato Village of Dumbo Raya sub-district of Gorontalo city with a total area of 41,9 Ha. This study is aimed at assessing the landslide by creating a landslide zonation map and finding out the landslide potential area by using the UAV. This research employs field surveys by using drones and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis. It is found that the parameters that influence landslides are lithology, rainfall, slope inclination, lineament density, and land use. The landslide vulnerability analysis reveals three levels of vulnerability in this site; low, medium, and high vulnerability, in which, 19 Ha is classified as low vulnerability area, 9.5 Ha is classified as medium vulnerable, and 13.5 Ha is classified as highly vulnerable area.

Using granular form application in the pisciponic system, this study investigates the effects of supplementation in the pisciponic system on plant growth performance. This study was conducted at the Aquaculture Experimental Station in Puchong, Selangor. The experiment was set up in a greenhouse with a plastic liner at the bottom. The coated fertilizers were immersed in 500 mL of distilled water in the beakers. The immersion times were analyzed for each 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, and 72 hours. Insoluble solids and water were then filtered using filter paper and dried in the oven, followed by the drying process to obtain a constant weight before being put in the desiccators. During the release test, the distilled water was taken at every 48-hour interval, and the concentration of nutrients was determined from the atomic absorption spectrometer. The findings indicate that the weights of release fertilizers, specifically Zn and Fe, significantly decreased over time. At the lowest concentration, the coated zinc and iron weights decreased as time increased. Referring to the curve results, the Zn fertilizer started drastically decreasing its weight at hour 24, which decreased approximately to 0.002 for every subsequent hour. Meanwhile, Fe fertilizer decreased drastically at hour 66, where the weight dropped from 0.10467 to 0.039. However, the final weights for both fertilizers at hour 72 were about the same.

Based on research findings, Bangladesh’s river water, crucial for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use, has long been in a terrible situation. There have been numerous instances of significant contamination in the waterways surrounding Dhaka city, including the Buriganga River, and in Chattogram city, including the Karnaphuli River, over the past 40 years. The existing data demonstrate that other urban rivers, particularly Karatoa, Teesta, Rupsa, Pasur, and Padma, are also in severe condition due to the disposition of huge pollutants. Contaminants flowing with the water have severely polluted the downstream areas of the rivers. High metal concentrations are frequently observed in river water during the dry season. In the Buriganga River and at certain locations in the Turag, Balu, Sitalakhya, and Karnaphuli Rivers, the presence of dissolvable oxygen (DO) is nearly zero. NO3, NO2, and PO4-3 pollution has also occurred in many rivers. Most rivers have Cr, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd, Mn, As, and Ni concentrations beyond the legal limit for drinking water. In contrast, some rivers have metal concentrations above the legal irrigation water limit. The majority of the rivers, particularly the peri-urban rivers in Dhaka city, Teesta, Korotoa, Rupsha, Karnaphuli, and Meghna Rivers, have significantly higher metal concentrations, according to sediment data. Metal concentrations in sediment are generally higher than USEPA standards in most rivers. Metal concentrations in fish and crops demonstrate metal bioaccumulation. The trend in metal concentration follows the order of water, fish, and sediment. It has been shown that crops irrigated with tainted water contain dangerous metals. The analysis of daily intake data on carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic substances reveals that consuming contaminated food can seriously impact human health.

Plastic needs have expanded along with population growth, industrialization, and urbanization. Plastic is unrivaled due to its useful properties and is used to prepare numerous important goods daily. This paper encloses the different kinds and applications of petroleum-based plastic and the drawbacks related to their use, i.e., its nonbiodegradability which leads to their stay in the environment for a very long time. Additionally, there are not enough effective disposal techniques for the large volume of plastic waste produced; thus, plastic garbage builds up in the environment and endangers it. Limiting the usage of plastic is necessary to protect the environment. This can be done with the help of bioplastic, which is an excellent substitute for plastic. The different kinds of bioplastic and their biodegradability in different mediums, viz., soil compost and aquatic systems, are addressed in this paper. Along this, the different areas of application of bioplastic have been explored. The present study also addresses the underlying mechanism of plastic polymerization and biodegradation and the current status of bioplastics in the global market.

This study explains visitors’ perceptions of climate comfort in the Padang coastal tourism area, including Air Manis Beach, Padang Beach, Nirwana Beach, and Pasir Jambak Beach. Climate comfort index calculation using the Holiday Climate Index (HCI) and survey methods are used to take data. The survey is conducted to collect data on climate comfort perception and the role of weather on that comfort. There are 409 respondents in this study. Most visitors state that weather affects climate comfort during their trip (99%) and need weather information for outdoor tourism (98.5%). However, only 27.1% are looking for weather information before traveling outdoors. This coastal tourism area’s perceived level of climate comfort is comfortable (64%). The thermal sensation is neutral (66%). Meanwhile, the average score of the comfort index in Padang is neutral throughout the year. The temperature interval indicates the comfortable category is between 26ºC-28ºC.

Free trade causes damage to the environment substantially as it puts pressure on natural resources in its venture to expand economic activities. On the other hand, there is also an argument that free trade has the potential to improve environmental quality by contributing to growth. Such growth enhancement may help individuals, organizations, or governments raise funds and spend more on environmental protection. This paper highlights the links between trade and the environment. Besides, it also shows how international trade and environmental protection are both essential to the well-being of humanity and, conversely, how they are mutually supportive. This paper also scrutinizes how the WTO plays a role in balancing trade and the environment, as many WTO agreements have environmental exceptions.

The present study collected anaerobic sludge from a paper mill operating a UASB reactor on agro-based raw material (wheat straw) washings for biogas production. After determining the sludge profile and methanogenic activity of anaerobic sludge, it was further used to determine the anaerobic biodegradability of RCF-based kraft paper mill effluent. The sludge profile of collected anaerobic sludge was found w.r.t. Suspended Solids (SS) 60 g.L-1, Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) 23 g.L-1, Inorganic content 62% & Organic content 38%. The presence of effective microbes in anaerobic sludge was confirmed by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). Degradation of organic matter present in effluent by anaerobic digestion leads to the production of biogas (methane & CO2), a renewable energy source. The sludge profile and methanogenic activity findings supported the anaerobic treatment of kraft paper mill effluent and were positive. The methanogenic activity of anaerobic sludge was determined as 0.832 gCOD.gVSS-1×Day, and the average anaerobic biodegradability of RCF-based kraft paper mill effluent was found to be 71.5%.

In the present study, a total of 17 morphologically different gut-associated bacteria were isolated from four species of estuarine polychaetes: polychaetes Capitella capitata, Scalibregma inflatum, Dendronereis aesturiana, and Namalycastis abiuma. The isolated strains were evaluated for their probiotic activities, such as digestive enzymes including protease, amylase, and lipase, and antimicrobial activities by the agar well diffusion method against fish pathogens. Based on their better enzymatic and antibacterial activities, two bacterial strains, CMST Poly1 and CMST Poly2, were selected for further probiotic studies. Based on the biochemical and morphological characterization, both probiotic strains were characterized as Gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming, homofermentative, absence of catalyzing enzymes and notable proteolytic activity, and susceptibility to various antibiotics. Further, these two strains were confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as Bacillus subtilis CMST Poly1 and Priestia megaterium CMST Poly2. Our results revealed that strains Bacillus subtilis CMST Poly1 and Priestia megaterium CMST Poly2 can potentially be used as probiotic strains in aquaculture applications.

In this paper, boron nitride materials were prepared by a two-step synthesis method, and this material’s adsorption property for neodymium ions was explored. The experimental results show that the adsorption capacity of boron nitride is closely related to pH. When the pH is 6.0, the adsorption performance of the material is the best; the kinetic data show that the adsorption equilibrium can be reached in about 150 min, and the adsorption capacity at equilibrium is 207.3 mg.g-1. In addition, the Freundlich and Langmuir models were used to fitting the thermodynamic results. It was found that the adsorption process of boron nitride on Nd(III) involved both monolayer adsorption and multi-layer adsorption. These data indicate that boron nitride has a good adsorption effect on Nd(III) in water and is a promising material for environmental remediation.